Private Actors Research Articles

In Addressing Forest and Land Fires in East Kotawaringin Regency, Collaboration and Socio-Economic Aspects of The Penta Helix Model are Employed

Introduction: Forest fires are a crucial issue requiring serious attention as it reached 9.7 million hectares of forest fires in 1997/1998. Therefore, there is a need for synergy between governmental and non-governmental institutions to support the mitigation of forest and land fires. Literature Review: Collaborative Governance is one of the types of Governance. This concept emphasizes the importance of a condition where public and private actors (businesses) collaborate in specific ways and processes to produce legal products, regulations, and policies appropriate for the public or society according to Ansell and Gash (2007:545). Method: The Penta Helix model is most commonly associated with the ABCGM concept, which stands for Academician, Business, Community, Government, and Media. This study employs a Comparative Qualitative Analysis (QCA) approach. Result and Discussion: This research showed that the contribution of academia in Penta helix collaboration is as a conceptualizer, The contribution of businesses in the Penta helix context is generally an enabler in both technology and innovation, as well as training, the government's contribution is mitigating forest and land fires in East Kotawaringin Regency includes the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). Conclusion: The role of the Community in Penta helix collaboration is as an accelerator in mitigating forest and land fires, while the role of the media from the Penta helix perspective is as a bridge to convey information on forest and land fire prevention from authorities (communicators) to the public (communicants). In term of collaboration, face-to-face dialogues is necessary to have consensus of the discussion.

Drivers of collaborative governance for the green transition

ABSTRACT Theoretical and empirical studies praise the role of collaborative governance in spurring green transition, but we still know little about how competing constellations of governance factors can support local collaboration between public and private actors. This article uses Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 22 local cases of the collaborative governance of green transitions. The analysis identifies two different pathways to collaborative enhancement of the circular economy that may enable public leaders in different socio-political contexts to use collaborative governance in networks and partnerships as a lever for enhancing environmental sustainability and mitigating the climate crisis.

Beyond Cronyism: Local Governance and Welfare Provision by Large Companies in Russian Monotowns

In the 2000s, rather than choosing between abandonment and restructuring, Russian authorities opted to maintain the socio-economic status quo in monotowns, an important source of support for the Putin regime. Yet, this status quo is not a given equilibrium; it needs constant maintenance through cooperation between state and business actors, especially under the severe financial constraints of regional and local budgets. This single case study explores how and why local authorities and large companies cooperate in monotowns to provide public goods at the nexus of vertical pressures and horizontal incentives. We show that public goods are produced through resource pooling in a network-like cooperation between public and private actors.

Open Data and Composite Procedures: Strengthen the Quality and the Effectiveness of Administrative Activity

Open data allows new experiments in administration, both in terms of activities and organisation. In terms of composite procedures, open data can serve many public interests in new ways, leading to faster and more accurate decision-making (already at the preparatory level), while it remains difficult to ensure effective judicial protection for individuals in shared administration between the EU and the Member States. In this context, procedural guarantees at the decision-making stage should not be neglected, even more if we consider the EU public administration as a platform, offering data as services, exchanging information and data, cooperating, and competing with public and private actors. Relying on the power of data, however, requires resilient rules, based on EU principles as to assure the rule of law, and able to cope with the challenges of the digital transition, as to ensure the “effectiveness” of administrative activities implementing EU law in each Member State.

Contestation, negotiation, and experimentation: The liminality of land administration platforms in Kenya.

This paper examines diverse infrastructural interventions in the making of Ardhisasa, the Kenyan state's digital land information management platform, as a space of contestation, negotiation, and experimentation. We analyse the platformisation of governance through theories on liminality to explain the agency of various actors in shaping the digital state. We particularly zoom into the influence of two actors: the private actors in the land sector and the civil society organisations representing informalised residents, and how they exercise agency in the development of Ardhisasa. Drawing on interviews with state and non-state actors, secondary literature, and extensive experience within Kenya's land administration system, we trace the overt and covert exercise of power in the platformisation of land administration of Nairobi. Our central thesis is that, despite its progressive development, Ardhisasa follows the tradition of a long line of large-scale infrastructural or developmental projects that rarely deliver on their promise for improvement but rather further entrench marginalised groups due to its exclusion of the already existing, albeit informalised, land administration and transaction practices that meet the needs of the urban poor. We argue that Ardhisasa's perpetual state of becoming leads to the spatialisation of liminality itself.

“In densification we trust” – on the role of abstract space in the production of urban densification in the Alpine Rhine Valley

ABSTRACT This paper draws on Henri Lefebvre’s conception of abstract space to analyze how socio-territorial relations between a variety of public and private actors shape the transformation of the built environment of the Alpine Rhine Valley in western Austria through urban densification. First, the paper conceptualizes abstract space through the duality of land, which is both traded as a market commodity and regulated by the various layers of the state. Lefebvre’s concept is further refined by making it volumetric, in order to analyze how conceptualizations of urban density are the site of negotiations and trade-offs that irrationalize the rational nature of abstract space. Six socio-territorial relations were identified during typical phases of land acquisition and project development, derived from the empirical material resulting from 20 interviews with key stakeholders. The paper thus demonstrates how socio-territorial relations are essential for the conceptualization of urban densification projects, as well as how volumetric abstract space can contribute to de-naturalizing our understanding of the transformation of the built environment.

Commodification of urban space in the Atlixcáyotl-Lomas de Angelópolis corridor in Puebla, Mexico

ABSTRACT Market-oriented urban development has reconfigured social life in Mexican metropolises in recent decades. The Atlixcáyotl-Lomas de Angelópolis corridor in Puebla illustrates how neoliberal policies stimulate the commodification of urban space, as the current physical, economic, and social arrangements in this corridor result from a state-led planning strategy that has mainly benefited private actors. The extended urban corridor—approximately eight miles long—in the southwest area of the metropolis was enabled by an ambitious regional plan in the 1990s that created a new crucial centrality known as Angelópolis developed over a land reserve of approximately 1,000 ha of expropriated agrarian social land (ejidos). The paper explores the role and impact of urban policies supposedly created for “public interest” to encourage the provision of affordable housing, green areas, public infrastructure, and social facilities, which, in contrast, have fostered elite residential horizontal and private developments, financial capital investments, and private facilities.

User accounts: How technological concepts permeate public law through the EU's AI Act

This article argues that through the EU's technology regulation, technological concepts permeate legal language. Such concepts may function as transplants, even irritants, causing tensions and uncertainties. As technology regulation is increasingly horizontal, i.e. obligating private and public actors alike, these newfound legal concepts remain disconnected from established public law vocabulary and the power constellations it represents and embeds. We approach this evolution of legal language from public law perspective and concentrate on the concepts of ‘user’ and ‘deployer’ in the EU's upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act. We discuss these emerging legal concepts in relation to the rich theorizing on the concepts in human–computer interaction research. Our analysis demonstrates a discrepancy between legal and technology-oriented conceptualizations of the ‘user-deployer’. We draw three conclusions. First, the digital revolution is taking place in conceptual-linguistic practices of law, and not only when translating law into code. Second, when external concepts are appropriated into law, they are uprooted from their established habitat, which may result in unpredictability in future legal interpretation. Third, in public law, adopting the ‘user-deployer’ may have some additional challenges, as it introduces a new agent into the relationship between public authority and private entities. Simultaneously, citizens seem to be mainly excluded from the legal conceptualizing, which risks blurring traditional power constellations.

Characterizing Future Authoritarian Governance in the Space Domain

Traditionally, discussions of governance beyond Earth have largely been held to the purview of debates about space law and global governance regimes. Yet, the priority of space exploration among ambitious, tech-industry associated billionaires and its continued potential for militarization suggest that a more dynamic approach may be needed, given that state-sponsorship of extraterrestrial colonial projects may be more akin to partnerships between private and public actors rather than nation-states assuming traditional roles as sole sources of decision-making. Permanent settlements in space will require forms of localized government that may look distinct from contemporary models of political order. This article thus asks a provocative question associated with the empirical record of human colonization and settlement in prior eras: What sort of authoritarian governance is most likely to form in human space settlements during the medium term? Reviewing variations on political order in small-scale colonial settlements in light of recent conceptual work on authoritarian rule, the article identifies three theoretical models of governance that may emerge once beyond Earth settlements become permanent fixtures of human society.

Symbiosis between Private Sector and Politics amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

In this study, symbiosis is denoted as the cooperation that manifested between parties in an event or setting. Thus, through collective private and government actions that transcends borders, the next phase of combating Covid-19 requires a change of mind on the supposed role of the local government and the private sector. Hence, the study assessed the symbiosis between the local barangay unit and the private sectors that occurred in the respondent-towns in the City of Meycauayan, Bulacan during ECQ. Given the combined efforts from the local barangay units and the different individuals and private enterprises to help the residents, it was determined that there was indeed a positive effect on the community. Residents were aware of the contributions of the private individuals and enterprises which help them to go through the hardships of unemployment, being able to eat and survive the ordeal of the ECQ and Covid-19. In essence, the residents of the respondent-towns benefited form the symbiosis between the private and public sector amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Climate change, public health, and animal welfare: towards a One Health approach to reducing animal agriculture’s climate footprint

Animal agriculture contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—an estimated 12%-20% of total anthropogenic emissions. This has led both governmental and private actors to propose various ways to mitigate those climate impacts. This paper applies a One Health lens to the issue, arguing that the choice of solutions should not only consider the potential to reduce GHG emissions—which is not always a given—but also the implications for public health and animal welfare. With this perspective, we examine the potential public health and animal welfare impacts of three types of strategies that are often proposed: (1) “sustainable intensification” methods, aimed at maintaining or increasing production while limiting emissions and avoiding further land conversion; (2) “species shift” approaches, which focus on changing diets to consume meat from animals produced with lower GHG emissions instead of that of animals associated with higher emissions; and (3) “systemic dietary change” approaches that promote shifts towards whole plant-based foods or novel alternatives to conventional animal products. We discuss how some approaches—particularly those associated with sustainable intensification and species shift—could introduce new and significant risks to public health and animal welfare. Promoting systemic dietary change helps to overcome some of these challenges, but requires careful attention to equity to ensure that vulnerable populations still have access to the nutrients they need. We end with recommendations for a more holistic approach to reducing emissions from farmed animals that can help avoid trade-offs and increase synergies with other societal goals.

What drives trust in regulatory agencies? Probing the relevance of governmental level and performance through a cross-national elite experiment on EU regulation

Abstract Trust between constituent actors within the European Union (EU)’s multilevel regulatory regimes is decisive for regulatory success. Trust drives information flows, increases compliance, and improves cooperation within these regimes. Despite its importance, systematic knowledge regarding the drivers of trust within regulatory regimes is limited. This paper inquires whether trust in regulatory agencies is influenced by their affiliation with the national or EU governmental level, as well as by their performance. While existing literature predominantly focuses on why citizens place their trust in governments or regulatory agencies, this paper presents original insights regarding the formation of trust among elites within the regulatory regime, including politicians, ministerial officials, agency officials, interest groups, and regulated entities. We employ data obtained from a large-scale vignette experiment conducted in six countries involving 752 decision-makers from relevant organizations. The experimental results suggest that both public and private elite actors’ trust assessment of regulatory agencies does not hinge on cues associated with the governmental level, but rather depends on agency performance. Accordingly, belonging to the national or EU governmental level does not create a difference in trust assessment of regulatory agencies in itself. It, however, shows that particularly elite actors are rather sensitive in terms of the performance of a regulatory agency.

Navigating the Waves of Health Transformation Program of Turkey: A Critical Examination of the Shifting Landscape for Private Sector

Over the last two decades, Turkey has experienced significant shifts in its healthcare system through the implementation of the Health Transformation Program (HTP) led by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). Initially closely tied to AKP's political goals, the HTP has evolved, displaying different phases at its journey and, thus, prompting a reflective look. The recent controversial initiative by the AKP government, the establishment of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) hospitals, commonly known as şehir hastaneleri (city hospitals) in Turkey, has underscored a need for a reflective examination that considers various actors to comprehend the formation of health policies. This study critically delves into the HTP's transformation, noting a reduced emphasis on healthcare policy within the AKP's priorities, by exploring how private sector players respond and position themselves in Turkey's healthcare reform scene. Using official reports and declarations, the research investigates private actors' views on AKP's healthcare strategies, their satisfaction levels, policy adjustments, and financial impacts. The aim is to unravel the narratives and strategies of the private sector in the changing landscape of the HTP.

Sweatshops and Labour Law: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Ignoring Labour Law in Developing Countries

Abstract Academic defenders of sweatshops argue that disregarding labour rights will result in increased welfare in the developing nations where transnational corporations (TNCs) operate. They argue that TNCs should ignore local labour laws in the best interests of the poor. In this article we criticise this ‘ignore the law’ position regarding sweatshops on three separate grounds. First, it fails to acknowledge the demands for businesses to respect the rule of law as part of the development process. Second, it utilises an inadequate account of voluntary contractual bargaining which overlooks how employment practises operate in sectors prone to utilising sweatshop labour, leading to coercive employment conditions incompatible with human dignity and free choice. Third, it fails to adequately account for labour law and international labour standards, which embody a strong moral conception of dignity at work and observance of fundamental human rights in protecting workers against abuse through the resulting legal duties placed on states and corporate actors. We conclude that poverty reduction requires the support of both private and public actors. Advocating the side-stepping of labour laws distracts from the important work of institution building necessary to protect workers and facilitate economic growth consistent with decent work, sustainable development, fairness and human dignity as embodied in international labour standards.

Public–Private Development Cooperation: Interface and Conflicting Logics in the Formation of a Strategic Partnership

Public–private development partnership constitutes the core of a deepening normative agenda that places private actors as active development agents and as means through which other development objectives are pursued in partnership with publicly funded aid actors. This normative agenda may challenge international development. This article goes beyond the official policy level to explore the formation of public–private development cooperation in practice, not just on paper. It zooms into the partnership between a Norwegian NGO and a multinational company and their joint project to renovate an old vocational college in Ethiopia to serve the private actor’s need for qualified workers. The article shows how a publicly funded development project becomes a proxy for private interests, but argues that the diversion of public aid is not due to bad intentions or conflicting interests. Rather, it is the result of interface situations created by the public–private partnership agenda and its intentional merger of actors with distinct institutional logics, accountabilities and rationales. The article demonstrates how actors put together as part of the public–private partnership agenda end up undermining the agenda itself because of the interface situations created in the nexus of public and private actors.

Pricing carbon in a multi-sector economy with social discounting

Economists tend to view a uniform emissions price as the most cost-effective approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper scrutinizes the assumptions in general equilibrium which underlie the established view that uniform emissions pricing is optimal, focusing on economies where society values the well-being of future generations more than private actors. When social and private discount rates differ, we show that a uniform carbon price is optimal only under restrictive assumptions about technology homogeneity and intertemporal decision-making. Non-uniform pricing spurs capital accumulation and benefits future generations. Depending on sectoral heterogeneity in the substitutability between capital and energy inputs, we find that optimal carbon prices differ widely across sectors and yield substantial welfare gains relative to uniform pricing. Realizing these welfare gains, however, requires that the regulator has information on the technology heterogeneity across sectors. Differentiated carbon pricing based on imperfect estimates of technology heterogeneity can yield significant welfare losses.

Regulation and participation of the private sector in the pursuit of universal health coverage: Challenges and strategies for health systems.

This paper focuses on the role of the private sector (including for-profit and non-profit organizations) in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). It examines their involvement in the management, service delivery, resource investment and financing of primary health care (PHC) within the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The study covers a review of health systems, emphasizing the influence of private institutions on public health, and evaluates how private sector experiences contribute to system functions and progress towards UHC. The findings indicate the crucial role of the private sector in global health systems, notably expanded in several countries. Private actors are essential to improve access and coverage, particularly in countries with low health indicators. The article highlights the importance of primary care physicians understanding these dynamics since their management is vital in implementing public policies for UHC.

Audience segmentation approach to conservation messaging for transforming the exotic pet trade.

Advancing transformative change for sustainability requires population-wide behavior change. Yet, many behavioral interventions tackling environmental problems only examine average effects on the aggregate, overlooking the heterogeneous effects in a population. We developed and preregistered a novel audience segmentation approach to test the diverse impact of conservation messaging on reducing demand for exotic pets (private action - i.e., desire to own exotic pets or visit wildlife entertainment places) and fostering citizen engagement for system-wide change (civic action - e.g., signing a petition or participating in a protest against the exotic pet trade). Through an online survey with US participants (n=2953), we identified 4 population segments (early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards), representing varying levels of commitment to wildlife conservation and then randomly assigned each segment to one of 3 messaging conditions. Messages highlighting negative consequences of the exotic pet trade and the power of collective action for system change effectively promoted private action among all segments except early adopters (ηp 2=0.005). Among civic actions, only the collective action message motivated early adopters and the early majority to sign petitions (φC=0.193 and φC=0.097, respectively). Furthermore, the 4 segments showed distinct reasoning for action and inaction on wildlife conservation, with certain relational values, such as care, serving as both motivations and barriers to action. These findings highlight the need for targeted behavioral interventions across diverse populations.

International Law, Security, and Sanctions: A Decolonial Perspective on the Transnational Legal Order of Sanctions

This article reviews recent literature on sanctions from international law, political science, sociology, anthropology, and history. It shows how the literature during the comprehensive sanctions decade (the 1990s), with a largely critical view on sanctions in the age of globalization, was co-opted by the targetization of sanctions in the sanctions miniaturization decade (the 2000s). It then reviews the sanctions literature in sociology and anthropology during the sanctions enforcement decade (the 2010s), addressing the transnational characteristics of sanctions, their infrastructural materiality in the digital economy, and the deputization of private actors to police their implementation. Last, the article reviews the literature in colonial governmentality to encourage sanctions specialists to take a longer-term view of transnational orders of sanctions. This section ends with a call to decolonize sanctions research—or rather, to question the colonial origins of sanctions as an instrument of world making so that a properly decolonial perspective on sanctions can be elaborated.

For the Country, the Corporation and the Métier: Alternative Drivers Among Practitioners in Private Sector Aid

The financialization of development and the outsourcing of aid work to contracted businesses are strengthening the role of alternative drivers among practitioners engaged in international development work. These relate to but also transcend the dichotomy between altruism and personal self-interest, which often frames scholarly research on aid worker motivations. Focusing on consultants and development finance experts, this article highlights three institutional impetuses that guide practitioners’ work. They are concerned with the international competitiveness of donor operations, the stakes of one’s employer in cross-sectoral partnerships and the reputation and position of one’s professional sub-field. Consultants and development finance experts also highlight considerable staff movements across non- and for-profit institutions. In the increasingly complex architecture of aid interventions, such boundary-crossers operate in a new space of development brokerage, as mediators between public and private sector actors.